Storage tank



NOV. I, 1932. 3 WORTMANN 1,886074 STORAGE TANK Filed Jan. 16, 1951VENTOR Patented Nov. l, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIETRICHWORTMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK STOBAGE TANK Application filed. January16, 1931.

This -invention relates t storage tanks for fluids, such as fuel oil andgasoline, for installation in or adj acent to buildings, such as pr1vatehomes, apartment houses, factor1es, automob1le serv1ce stat1cns, etc,2111d111 calities where such tanks are required t0 be has been foundthat when 1eaks occur in such tanks, the occurrence. is not readilydiscovered, even when the fluid Stored in the tank has a, strong odor.asin the case 0f gasoline,

and such occurrence aside from the actual loss of fluid, may causeconsiderable damage if n0t checked promptly.

The obj ect 0f this invention is to provide a storage tank for suchfluids, und to combine therewith an indicating means which Will readilyindicate a leak in the tank, und which means Will function without theemployment 0f mechanical indicators, floats, dia1s, etc. Indicatingmeans cf this type are more 01' less exposed to injury 01 subject tointerference in operation, or Which due to various causes may entirelyfail t0 operate, or which may not function with suflicient promptness t0give immediate indication 0f the occurrence cf a leak.

In carrying this invention into effect, I provide a double-walled 0rjacketed storage tank, the jacket or outer Shell being preierably 0fmetal similar 130 the storage tank proper, and the space between the twoshe1l.s 0f the tank when in use is entirely filled with a fiuid whichserves as the leak detector. F01 this purpose various fiuids, such asoils or specially colored fluids, may be employed so that leaks in both.shells cf the tank may be readily und quickly discovered upon theslightest 1eak occurring by noting the drop of the detector fluid in anindicator or detector tube connected with the outer shell cf the tank,01 by the presence cf the detector fluid in the gasoline 01 other fluidin the.

storage part of the tank.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which is alongitudinal ele- Serial N0. 509210.

vation und partial section of a j acketed stora ge tank, and shom'ng theusual inlet, suct1on, gauge und vent pipes, fittings und service boxes,und an extra pipe, fitting and servive box ior the space between the twoshells 0f the tank.

Beferring tc the dmwing, 1 indicates the stomge tank und 2 the outershell 01 jacket. The inner shell 1 is supported und he1d spaced withinthe oucer shcll 2 in any suitable manner, und f0r the purpose ofillustration, a pair of circumferential fianges 3 are .shown 011 theshe1i l. In practice these fianges or other supporting und spacing meansWill be open 0r perforated t0 permit the free flow cf fluid in thejacketed space, und which fiuid Will entirely surround the inner 01storage Shell. The amount of clearance between the inner und outershells may be relatively slight, but sufficient to provide the spacenecessary for an eflective quantity 0f detector fluid, und suificientspace t0 permit the free flow cf fiuid, and to afiord sufficientclearancefor the ipe fittings 4 mounted on the inner shell. he outershell 2 will be perforated to admit the ehtrance ofthe usual inlet o1filling pipe 5, vent pipe 6, gauge 01 measuring pipe 7, und suction o1outlet pipe 8. The openings in the unter shell through which these pipespass Will be provided with fittings, packing' and packing rings, thedetails cf which form no part of the present invention und therefore areonly schematiczilly illustrated as flanged rings 9. The outer shell 2has an additional opening provided With afitting 10 to receive pipe 11.This pipe serves as the inlet for the detector fluid 12, and also as aninspection and indicator tube. All 0f the tubes 5, 7, 8 and 11 1ead toservice boxes 13 of anyapproved type and hence are only illustratedschematically. Vent pipe 6 d0es not leacl to a service box und isusually carried up 130 a suitable *point on a building 01 above ground.Pipes 5, 7, 8 and 11 at the service boxes are closed by suitable plugsor caps as usua1. Leak detector pipe 11 is employed to fil1 the spacebetween she1ls 1 und 2 with the detector fluid 12 and this fiuid Will bebrought to a definite 1eve1 in pipe 11 for indicating purpose. v v

The detector fluid may be any suitable oil or water. When water isemployed it Will be colored so as to be readily discovered if it escapesfrom its space between the two shells either to the outside of shell 2or into shell 1. A fluid with a streng oder readily distinguishable overthe contents 0f tank 1 may be employed a.s the leak detecting fiuid, butin pra.ctice I refer to employ a dark oil which will easi y show oninspection if be1ow its proper level in the detector tube 11, and whichwill readily show its presence in the storage tank if a leak occurs inshell 1.

When the storage tank is in use, the detector fluid 12 will function inseveral ways. First, on inspection 0f the detector tube 11 by removingthe usual plug or cap ab its service box 13, if the detector fluid isbelow the re uired level, it will indicate at once that a lea exists ineither the outer 01 the inner shell of the tank. Second, the presence ofdetector oil in the storage tank, which will show on a test rod insertedinto gauge pipe 7 or in the stored fluid itself.

In the installation of fiuid storage tanks underground as at presentrequired, either in va.ults or imbedded in concrete, moisture eventuallycauses corrosion, und when a leak occurs, especially where the tank isirnbedded in concrete, the leak frequently continues for a long periodbefore discovery. In such cases serious results may follow where thefluid, auch as gasoline, seeps through the ground into buildings 01'other structures where explosions ma.y occur. The jacketing of thestorage tank und surrounding same with an oil overcomes this difliculty,and when the outer shell or jacket becomes corroded und leaks occur, thedrop in the detector oil level will immediately give notice so thatproper steps may be taken promptly t0 repair the leaks.

What I claim is:

1. A leak detector for an underground st0rage tank for fluids,cornprising a readily observable fluid in combination with a tank havinga double shell the Walls of which are held in spaced relation, and whichspace is filled with said fluid, whereby leakage into the ground throughthe outer shell, o1 frmn the inner shell to the jacket space 0x int-othe inner shell from the jacket space may be quickly observed, and atube extending from hq'acket to show the level of the indicator 2. Aleak detect0r for an underground storage tank for gasoline, comprising areadily observable neu-explosive fluid in combination with a tank havinga double shell the walls of which are held in spaced relation, a.ndwhich space is filled with said fluid whereby leakage into the groundthrough the c uter shell, or from the inner shell to the acket space, orinto the inner shell from the 1acket space may be quickly observed, und

a tube extending from the jacket to show the level of the indicatorfluid.

3. A leak detector for an underground storage tank for gasoline,comprising a nonexp1osive fluid of distinctive color in combination witha tank having a double shell the Walls of which are held in spacedrelation, and which space is filled with said fluid, whereby leakageinto the ground through the outer shell, or from the inner shell to thejacket space, or into the inner shell from the jacket space may bequickly observed, und a tube extending from the jacket to show the levelof the indicator fluid.

4. A leak detector for an underground storage tank for gasoline,comprising an oil of such character as to be readily observable und incombination with a tank having a double shell the Walls of which areheld in spaced relation, und which space is filled With said fluid,whereby leakage into the ground through the outer shell, or from theinner shell t0 the jacket space, or intothe innen shell from the jacketspace may be quickly observed, and a tube extending from heacket to showthe level of the indicator This specification signed at New York city,in the county and State of New York, this 14th day of J anuary, 1931.

DIETRICH VVORTMANN.

